Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Austria’s pride will be at stake when they host Moldova to Worthersee Stadion on Monday evening. Das Team outplayed Israel 4-2 in their last group game, with Marko Arnautovic once again proving his worth. Koln midfielder Louis Schaub should be recalled to the starting XI after scoring a brace against Israel, as well as Real Madrid ace David Alaba. The Moldovans, on the other hand, are having yet another qualifying campaign to forget, with the team collecting no more than one point in total in the process.
The rock-bottom side face an uphill task in their last group match, and they are unlikely to spoil Austria’s party at Worthersee Stadion. Vadim Rata misses the match through suspension, while fellow defender Oleg Reabciuk returns to the squad after serving his one-game ban against Scotland. Anyhow, anything but a routine home win would be a major surprise.
Highlighted Player (David Alaba):
David Alaba started his youth career at SV Aspern and in 2002 he joined Austria Wien. Bayern Munich chiefs decided to sign him and he was promoted to the reserve team for the 2009/2010 campaign. He made 33 appearances for Bayern Munich II and he has been playing for the first team since 2010. At the age of 17 Alaba made his Champions League debut on 9 March, 2010 against Fiorentina.
The Austrian international is a full back, but he is capable of playing as a left midfielder as well. He represented Austria at the 2016 European Championship finals in France, but das Team failed to impress at the showpiece tournament, suffering elimination in the group stages. David Alaba won his fifth Bundesliga title with Bayern in the 2015/2016 season and he clinched the Champions League trophy with FCB in 2013.
Speaking of his individual honours, he was named Austrian Footballer of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Alaba was born in Wien on 24 June, 1992.
Highlighted Team (Moldova):
Seeing that they were a part of Soviet Union until 1991, Moldova played their first game as an independent country on July 2, 1991. The Moldovans were beaten by Georgina in front of home fans in Chisinau, but the following year the team recorded their biggest win on the international stage as they rolled over Pakistan 5-0 in Amman, Jordan.
The former Soviet republic have yet to qualify for the finals of the World Cup or the European Championship, but they recorded a couple of thrilling wins in the past. Moldova crushed Montenegro 5-2 in Podgorica in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, but they eventually failed to book their place at the showpiece tournament in Brazil.
The Moldovans were producing fine showings under Igor Dobrovolskiy in the 2008 European Championship qualifiers as well and it has to be noted that they hammered Hungary 3-0 at Stadionul Zimbru on November 17, 2007. Russian Premier League star Alexandru Gatcan is considered one of the most famous Moldavian footballers.